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ILS Successfully Launches the EchoStar XVI Satellite

International Launch Services (ILS), a leading launch services provider
for the global commercial satellite industry, successfully delivered the
EchoStar XVI satellite into orbit today on an ILS Proton for EchoStar
Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS). EchoStar is a leading global service
provider of satellite operations and video delivery solutions
headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

ILS Proton successfully launched the EchoStar 16 satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 21, 2012. (Photo: Business Wire)

The ILS Proton launched from Pad 39 within the Baikonur Cosmodrome at
00:31 local time today (November 20, 14:31 EST; 18:31 GMT). The ILS
Proton vehicle which consists of three stages, used a standard ascent
profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the EchoStar
XVI satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the
mission, the Breeze M utilized a standard five-burn mission to perform
the planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a
circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit. After a 9 hour
and 12 minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the EchoStar
XVI satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.

The satellite was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) utilizing
their space-proven 1300 platform, weighing over 6.6 metric tons.
EchoStar XVI is a powerful direct broadcast satellite (DBS) that is
fully leased to DISH
Network for use in its Direct-to-Home (DTH) services in the United
States. When launched, the satellite will be positioned at 61.5 degrees
West longitude. EchoStar XVI is the 24th SS/L satellite launched on an
ILS Proton.

This was the 382nd launch for Proton since the inaugural flight in July
1965, and the 76th ILS Proton launch executed. The Proton
Breeze M launch vehicle was developed and built by Khrunichev Research
and Production Space Center of Moscow, one of the pillars of the Russian
Space industry and majority shareholder in ILS.

“With the successful launch of EchoStar XVI, ILS Proton has launched
five of the satellites in the EchoStar fleet. We are very proud to have
served EchoStar in their expansion over the past ten years,” said ILS
President, Phil Slack.

About ILS and Khrunichev

ILS is a world leader in providing launch services for global satellite
operators and offers a complete array of services and support, from
contract signing through mission management and on-orbit delivery. ILS
has exclusive rights to market the Proton vehicle to commercial
satellite operators worldwide and is a U.S. company headquartered in
Reston, VA., near Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.ilslaunch.com.

Khrunichev, which holds the majority interest in ILS, is one of the
cornerstones of the Russian space industry. Khrunichev manufactures the
Proton system and is developing the Angara launch system. The Proton
launches from facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and
has a heritage of over 380 missions since July 1965. Khrunichev
includes, among its branches, a number of key manufacturers of launch
vehicle and spacecraft components in Moscow and in other cities of the
Russian Federation. For more information, visit www.khrunichev.com.